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Quantum phase transition of correlated iron-based superconductivity in LiFe<sub>1-x</sub>Co<sub>x</sub>As

ORAL

Abstract

We use scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to image the electronic impact of Co atoms on the ground state of the LiFe1-xCoxAs system. We observe that impurities progressively suppress the global superconducting gap and introduce low energy states near the gap edge, with the superconductivity remaining in the strong-coupling limit. Unexpectedly, the fully opened gap evolves into a nodal state before the Cooper pair coherence is fully destroyed. Our systematic theoretical analysis shows that these new observations can be quantitatively understood by the nonmagnetic Born-limit scattering effect in a s±-wave superconductor, unveiling the driving force of the superconductor to metal quantum phase transition.

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Presenters

  • Nana Shumiya

    Princeton University, Physics, Princeton University

Authors

  • Nana Shumiya

    Princeton University, Physics, Princeton University

  • Jiaxin Yin

    Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton University, Physics, Princeton University

  • Songtian Sonia Zhang

    Princeton University, Physics, Princeton University

  • Guangyang Dai

    Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • Yuanyuan Zhao

    School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology

  • Andreas Kreisel

    Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Leipzig, Universität Leipzig, University of Leipzig, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität

  • Gennevieve Macam

    National Sun Yat-Sen University

  • Brian M. Andersen

    University of Copenhagen, Niels Bohr Institute

  • Feng-Chuan Chuang

    Department of Physics, National Sun Yat-sen University, Physics, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Natl Sun Yat Sen Univ, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Physics, National Sun Yat-sen University

  • Hsin Lin

    Academia Sinica, Physics, Academia Sinica, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica

  • Ziqiang Wang

    Boston College, Department of Physics, Boston College, Physics, Boston College

  • Changqing Jin

    Chinese Academy of Sciences, EX5, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

  • Yunkyu Bang

    Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea, Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics and Department of Physics, POSTECH

  • Zahid Hasan

    Laboratory for Topological Quantum Matter and Spectroscopy, Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton University, Physics, Princeton University